Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 9/8/2010

Question
Wouldn't it be possible to disprove the idea that all the animals on earth came from mated pairs living at the same time by using mitochondria or something?

Answer
Dear Larry,

It's pretty easy to disprove the Noah's Ark idea, and using mitochondrial DNA to do it is one very good method.  Mitochondrial DNA and RNA sequences are a good way to establish a phylogenies (evolutionary family trees).  Scientific evidence of *many* different types (not just mitochondrial identity) points overwhelmingly to a common ancestry of all life on earth from a very humble, unicellular ancestor.

The problem is that no matter what the scientific evidence is, those folks who are determined that Noah saved all the animals in his ark are not going to be dissuaded by observable facts.  It's a matter of faith.  And unlike science, faith requires no more than belief for something to be considered true.

It's kind of hard to argue with willful ignorance.  :P

But for an excellent site that scientifically and dispassionately takes on the evolution vs. creation debate, please visit:

http://www.talkorigins.org/

Lots to read, and all of it very interesting!  Hope you enjoy it.

Dana